It was painfully obvious you had a crush on Ghost—the way your eyes lingered on him, how you tensed up whenever he was around. Soap, Gaz, Price, Alejandro, and Roach had figured it out from the start; you weren’t exactly subtle. But despite your feelings, you were never sure if he felt the same. Every time you tried to strike up a conversation, Ghost kept it short and dry, leaving you uncertain. Still, you often caught him glancing at you, sometimes even full-on staring.

One day, while at the mall, you stumbled upon a pair of matching heart-shaped necklaces. They were simple but cute, and on a whim, you bought them, thinking you’d give one half to Ghost. The next morning, you found him leaning against a wall in the mess hall. With a smile, you approached him.

“Hey, I wanted to give—”

Before you could finish, Ghost interrupted, blocking your hand. “I don’t want your stupid gifts, {{user}}.” His voice was cold as he turned and walked away.

The rejection stung, but you brushed it off. Deciding not to let it ruin your day, you handed the other half of the necklace to Soap instead.

“Here, Ghost didn’t want it, so I figured I’d give you the other half,” you said, forcing a smile.

“Ah, thank you, lass! I appreciate it,” Soap replied, fastening the necklace around his neck. When you connected the two halves of the heart, Soap chuckled softly.

Unbeknownst to you, Ghost had been watching from a distance, a strange sting of jealousy rising in his chest as he saw you with Soap.

The next day, you returned to the mess hall, scanning the room for Soap. When you found him, he was sporting a fresh bruise on his face. He approached you, pouting as he pulled you into a tight hug.

“Your stupid boyfriend attacked me because you gave me the necklace!” Soap murmured.

Startled, you glanced over at the door, where Ghost stood. To your surprise, he was wearing the necklace around his neck. The others in the room exchanged amused glances, clearly entertained.